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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE 



APPOFNTED TO INVESTIGATE THB 



CONDITION OF THE SUFFERERS 



BY THE FIRE 



NINTH AND WASHINGTON STS., PHILADA., 



MORNING OF WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8th, 1865. 



5 PHILADELPHIA: 

\ KING & BAIRD, PRINTERS, 601 SANSOM STREET. 

? 1865. 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE 



APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE THE 



ONDITION OF THE S 



h«ERERS 



m 



BY THE FIRE 



NINTH AND WASHINGTON STS, PHILADA., 



MORNING OF WEDNESDAY, FEB.. 8th, 1865. 



PHILADELPHIA: 
KING & BAIRD, PRINTERS, 60t SANSOM STREET. 

1865. 



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AN ACCOUNT OF THE FIRE. 



On the morning of the 8th of February, 1865, at about 
two o'clock, flames were seen issuing from the petroleum 
establishment at Ninth and Washington streets, Second 
Ward, Philadelphia. In twenty minutes from the time 
they were first discovered they had reached the adjoin- 
ing buildings, and in less than forty minutes the whole, 
square, from Washington avenue to Federal street, was 
burning. It was a most dismal, unpleasant sight, the 
streets being filled with snow and slush, and a cold rain 
was falling. 

The firemen, with their usual promptitude, hastened to 
the spot, but their efforts were almost futile. The peculiarly 
inflammable oil, stored in considerable quantity in the yard, 
flowed out into the streets and then down from sidewalk to 
sidewalk, all the way across the street. Persons who ran 
up Federal street to the fire, testify the spectacle they wit- 
nessed was grand beyond description. They saw this giant 
mass of flame, reaching higher up than the eaves of the 
houses, come roaring and dashing down the street to the 
corner, and then it swept around and onward until much of 
it ran into the sewers. 

But though the spectacle was grand, it was carrying- 
desolation and death in its pathway. The slumbering 



families were awakened by the flames darting in at their 
chamber windows, and some awoke to find themselves sur- 
rounded on every hand by a wall of fire, through which 
they could not pass. Many had only time to spring from 
their beds and rush into the snowy streets bare-foot, and in 
their night-clothing. It was a night of terror. None could 
tell how far the devouring element would reach. 

"When more than fifty houses had been ignited the wind 
changed and the flames were checked. 

The next day, when news of this terrible calamity was 
spread, our citizens rose up, and in their abounding sym- 
pathy for the sufferers, poured forth their generous 
contributions. 

Public meetings were called simultaneously at various 
places, all of which were nobly responded to, collections 
made, and temporary relief supplied immediately. A large 
meeting was organized at St. Paul's M. B. church ; one was 
called at Eobert Eaikes School-House, and another at Jef- 
ferson Hall. Unity of action being desirable, the various 
meetings were consolidated into one convened at Jefferson 
Hall, Sixth and Christian streets, on Thursday evening, 
February 9th, at which Mr. E. P. King was called to pre- 
side, and Messrs. W. S. Gregory, John W. Frazier, and 
C. L. Nicholson were appointed Secretaries. 

Mr. John Kelly was elected Treasurer, and an Executive 
Committee appointed to raise funds for the relief of the 
sufferers. The Executive Committee, consisting of the fol- 
lowing named gentlemen, 

First and Twenty-sixth Wards. 

Thomas T. Tasker, Sr., James Ballenger, 

Charles Humphreys, Jno. W. Lynn, 

Thomas A. Barlow, Joseph Thompson, 

Theo. M. Apple, Thomas T. Tasker, Jr., 

William J. Pollock, William M. Reilly, 

Samuel Patrick, Bernard Sprungk. 



Second Ward. 



Jesse Johnson, 
James C. Kelch, 
Dr. George "W. Nebinger, 
Jno. "W. Frazier, 
Thomas J. Barger, 
Samuel P. Dutton, 
"William Loughlin, 
Joseph Tittermart, 
David Hey, 



Rev. George "W. Shinn, 
Rev. John A. McKean, 
William S. Gregory, 
William F. Gushing, 
Byron Danby, 
Robert Nebinger, 
C. E. Kamerly, M.D., 

R. C. TlTTERMARY, 
A. M. Maggi, 
R. Kehrum. 



Third Ward. 



Charles Welsh, 

Peter Glasgow, 

Dr. E. "Ward, 

Rev. S. W". Thomas, 

John Kelley, 

Philip Fitzpatrick, 

Rev. Danl. Washburne, 



James Armstrong, 
Jno. P. McFadden, 
"William H. Slocum, 
E. C. Bonsall, 
William V. McGrath, 
P. H. Medara, 
Ewd. Kelley. 



Fourth Ward. 



Jno. M. Butler, 
Henry Marcus, 
B H. Bartol, 
K. McCaw, 



Ald. George Moore, 
William C. Stevenson, 
Ald. William McMullin, 
Joseph R. Lyndall. 



Committee at Large. 



Robert P. King. 
John Welsh, 
J. Vaughan Merrick, 
Col. P. S. "White, 



C. L. Nicholson, 
S. P. Godwin, 
William H. Shankland, 
David Farrell, Sr., 



David Farrell, Jr. 



met the same evening, and organized by appointing Mr. 
Charles Welsh, Chairman, and Mr. William S. Gregory 
Secretary. 



For the purpose of more efficient action, various sub- 
committees were appointed from the Executive Committee 
and the following Report, made by the Committee 

"TO INQUIRE INTO THE CONDITION OE THE SUEEERERS," 

Was presented at a subsequent meeting of the Executive 
Committee, held at the Marion Hose House, read and 
ordered to be published. 



REPORT. 



The Committee appointed at a meeting of citizens held 
at Jefferson Hall, Sixth and Christian streets, on Thursday 
evening, February 9th, to inquire into the condition of the 
sufferers by the recent coal oil conflagration at Ninth and 
Washington streets, present the following report : — 

When this Committee was first appointed their duties 
were thought to be of such a nature that they could be 
performed without involving very much labor and at little 
expense of time. The original mover and seconder of the 
resolution under which they were appointed, had in mind 
simply to inquire who id ere the sufferers, and what were 
their necessities, and to guard against imposition by parties 
who did not reside near the burnt district, or who were not 
injured by the fire. 

It was thought that a day or two given to this matter 
would enable them to do all that was required, but their 
duties grew larger and more numerous as they progressed 
in their investigation, so that from Friday morning, Febru- 
ary 10th, up to Monday evening, February 20th, portions 
of the Committee have been incessantly occupied ; and even 
now the work done will bear marks of imperfection. Had 
there been but five, ten, or fifteen families involved in this 
terrible calamity, or had there been a much larger number 
but of the same standing in society, the work would have 
been comparatively easy and simple. But as it was, there 
were about one hundred and forty families, representing 
about four hundred and fifty persons ; and with almost all 
imaginable differences of condition existing, so that each 
case required a separate and distinct examination. 

The sufferers ranged from the man of business, who lost 
his store and goods amounting to thousands of dollars to 



8 

the old lady whose sole loss was one pair of old shoes. 
They varied from the hard-working man, who had labored 
for years to accumulate the money to buy his house, to the 
washerwoman, who was storm-stayed for the night, and 
thus lost her suit of clothing and day's wages. 

The first effort of the Committee was to ascertain who 
were the sufferers ; and to accomplish this they made their 
headquarters at the drug store of Dr. A. M. Burden, corner 
Eighth and Federal streets, as it was quite near the burnt 
district, and was kindly offered by the Doctor. They then 
caused notices to be posted along Federal, Ninth, Ellsworth, 
"Washington, and other streets, requesting persons who had 
lived in the burnt district to report their names at once to 
the Committee. 

A large number immediately complied with the request. 
Portions of the Committee in the meantime explored the 
district, and began a map, which was at length completed, 
with the assistance of the neighbors, storekeepers, residents, 
and others. This map has answered the double purpose of 
locating the actual residents and checking the efforts of 
impostors who claim to have resided there. 

It required much effort, however, before the Committee 
were able to get their map to such a point of correctness, 
as to answer these purposes. Some people could not tell 
the number upon their houses. One woman had moved in 
only the night before, and on the morning of the fire went 
at once to her friends in New Jersey. One house contained 
five families. Several places had occupants of the same 
names. Several parties were known by two names, and 
so on. 

Believing that it was their duty to attempt to relieve the 
immediate and pressing distresses of the parties they met, 
the Committee issued orders upon the Disbursing Com- 
mittee for money, clothing, &c, which orders were received 
and supplied. In a few cases of very pressing want this 
Committee took the responsibility of granting pecuniary 
aid from a fund mainly collected for this purpose, at their 



9 

head-quarters. An account of such distribution of funds 
has been presented to and accepted by the Treasurer. 

The Committee believe that on the Saturday night after 
the fire there was no case of distress which had not been 
noted and relieved. At least, they do not know of any one 
who actually suffered for food or clothing after that time. 

Having thus ascertained who were the sufferers, the 
Committee sought to ascertain to what extent they suffered, 
and the information they gathered was from three sources, 
viz. : the verbal statements of the parties themselves, the 
corroborating testimony of persons who knew them, and 
the written statement of each case. 

Understanding that this Committee would be expected 
to report upon each case in such a manner as to furnish 
the basis for granting the permanent aid, as it is called, that 
is, making the final distribution of the relief fund, they 
endeavored to secure accurate information as to the losses 
of furniture, property, wearing apparel, &c, sustained by 
each one. 

Some of this information was gathered by person al visi- 
tation at their present residences, but most from written 
statements prepared by them at the request of the Com- 
mittee. The valuation of personal property and furniture, 
&c, admits of great differences of opinion. Some estimated 
upon the basis of what it would cost to replace each article 
now, forgetting they had had the use of their things in 
some cases for eight and ten years. Others upon the basis 
of their original cost. The Committee were compelled to 
go over item by item, and use their judgment as to what 
was correct and what was over-estimated. They are sorry 
to say that there have been some cases of attempted fraud 
in these estimates. They believe that some have wilfully 
exaggerated the value of their goods, and attached a value 
to articles which they did not possess. In the examination 
of estimates, the Committee deemed it proper to adopt the 
rule to strike out all items stating losses of money, jewelry 
trinkets, books, liquors, and articles merely ornamental. 



10 

The following general classification of sufferers was made, 
and their estimates referred accordingly : 

Glass 1. Those who suffered trifling losses of wearing 
apparel, furniture, &c. 

Glass 2. Those who suffered heavily in furniture, cloth- 
ing, &c. 

Glass 3. Those who suffered heavily in furniture, cloth- 
ing, and property. 

The Committee then took up each case, and endeavored 
to settle the following particulars, viz., their condition 
before the fire, their condition now ; to what extent have 
they been damaged ; the fairness or unfairness of their 
estimates ; the amount of help already granted, and what 
proportion of the general fund their cases demand. 

The aggregate amount of losses, as made out by the esti- 
mates of the parties themselves, is about $90,000, exclusive 
of Messrs. Hey and others. 

And the basis upon which the Committee proceeded to 
grant relief was a relief fund supposed to amount to about 
$30,000. 

For every award there are believed to be good reasons, 
satisfactory to the contributors, and to all who will take 
the trouble to go over the matter as carefully and patiently 
as we have done. 

The Committee have endeavored to act conscientiously, 
remembering that they were entrusted with the distribu- 
tion of money that came from the laboring man and the 
widow, as well as from the rich ; and that came with the 
warmest sympathies, and in some instances with hearty 
prayers, for the suffering. This very unusual and distress- 
ing calamity has called forth unusual exhibitions of gen- 
erosity on the part of our citizens. As the suddenness and 
completeness of the destitution of the sufferers has been 
unprecedented, so has the liberality of the community been 
beyond precedent. 

In the apportionment of the fund the Committee have 
endeavored to act impartially. 



11 

They have honestly tried to determine each case upon 
its own merits, and to grant relief accordingly. So far as 
they are concerned, it would have been a pleasure to have 
placed each sufferer in exactly the same condition he was 
before the fire. Not being able to do this with the fund at 
their disposal, they have, as justly as they know how, 
apportioned their own and their fellow-citizens' donations. 

It is proper here that one award be especially noticed. 

It will be remembered that during the fire a member 
of the Moyamensing Hose Company, whose name was 
Samuel McManemy Fleetwood, with two comrades, ran 
towards the burning building in which the Ware family 
resided to rescue them. 

The smoke and flames were so great that Fleetwood's 
comrades considered it hopeless to attempt the rescue of 
any of the family, and halted, and called to him to return ; 
but the brave fellow continued on, and when his charred 
and lifeless remains were found, in front of him was the 
body of the little babe, and near him the body of Mrs. 
Ware. It is thought that he attempted to save the two, 
but fell, overcome with the stifling smoke and furious 
flames. The Committee have learned that he has a mother, 
to whose support he contributed. To repay her in some 
trifling degree the loss she has sustained, but more partic- 
ularly to testify the appreciation of the community of this 
instance of noble self-sacrifice, the Committee have awarded 
$1,000 to Mrs. Fleetwood, to be invested for her by two 
trustees. 

The Committee believe it only just that in this public 
manner they recognize this deed of noble daring, and 
believe its recognition will have the effect of stimulating 
our young men and others to do and to dare for the wel- 
fare of others. It will at least convince noble spirits that 
their generous actions are not unheeded. 

It is hoped that the action of this Investigating Com- 
mittee will meet the approval of the Executive Committee, 



12 

the contributors to this noble relief fund, and the commu- 
nity at large. 

Signed, John A. McKean, 

Chairman of Committee. 

George W. Nebinger, M.D., 
Daniel Washburn, 
C. Humphreys, 
Jesse Johnson, 
Samuel P. Dutton, 
David Hey, 
Wm. E. Kehrum, 
Geo. W. Shinn, 

Secretary of Committee. 

Note. — The undersigned, members of the Committee, 
believe it right that they should put upon record the fact 
that Mr. David Hey and Messrs. Daly & Porter have not 
claimed any part of this relief fund, although very heavy 
sufferers. They have stepped aside that the very needy 
and suffering might have more relief. 

Signed, John A. McKean, 

Geo. W. Nebinger, 
Daniel "Washburn, 
C. Humphreys, 
Jesse Johnson, 
S. P. Dutton, 
Wm. Fi. Kehrum, 
Geo. W. Shinn. 

This report was read and approved at a meeting of the 
Executive Committee, held February 20th, 1865, at the 
Marion Hose House, and ordered to be published. 

WM. S. GREGORY, 

Secretary. 

Charles Welsh, 

Chairman of the Executive Committee. 



H1007S 









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